One-Way Journey

By: Wendy Sanders

Thursday, March 20, 2025

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23

Jesus often taught His followers biblical principles by using parables. But the words Jesus spoke in Luke 9:23 were straight to the point. The disciples would have instantly understood His illustration because crucifixion was commonplace at that time. To them, carrying a cross was a precursor to death. I love one bible commentators observation on this verse: “If someone took up his cross, he never came back. It was a one-way journey.”

When we follow Christ, we are doing something similar. When we "take up our cross," we are choosing to die to our old way of life. We are leaving the world behind, and there's no turning back. Choosing to follow Christ means denying ourself and leaving our past habits, temptations, and desires behind. As hard as that might seem, Jesus didn’t stop at the above verse. He added more to give us an eternal hope.

“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” Luke 9:24

It may seem confusing that Jesus said to follow Him we must die, and if we try to save our life, we'll lose it. Are we taking up our cross to die for self, or are we taking up our cross to die to self? I have seen many people who would do anything for selfish gain, but the bondage that comes with that choice never brings freedom. Many people in our world lose so much due to their selfishness and pride.

But when we die to self and follow Christ, we are exchanging the selfish gain our world offers for the abundant life Jesus offers. His death on the cross paid for our freedom, the life He intended for us to have. This, my friend, is the eternal hope Jesus offers. But to obtain it, we must take up our cross daily and follow Him.

My prayer is that all Christ followers are willing to die to self daily. Our one-way journey towards Heaven is a witness to what Christ did for us on the cross. Christ died for us; when we die to self, we are doing it for Him!